Cops above 50 told to work from home

Cops above 50 told to work from home

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

29.06.2020

Bengaluru: Police commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Sunday issued an order directing all his filed personnel aged above 50 with comorbid conditions to work remotely. This comes a week after he had instructed cops aged 55 years and above to work from home.

Rao’s fresh instructions come in the wake of increasing Covid-19 cases among police personnel in the city. As of June 21, 67 cops had tested positive in the city. The number has now shot up to at least 130.

“At least eight fresh cases have been added between yesterday and today (Saturday and Sunday), including an assistant commissioner of police attached to traffic,” one official said.

The new order reads: “In view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, personnel aged more than 50 years with comorbid conditions must compulsorily work from home.”

Last week, Rao had issued 13 directives, which included instructions that police should not allow anyone from outside the force to walk into the stations and that they must attend to complainants in the temporary tents only after conducting body temperature checks.

He had said police should ensure no person in distress returns without getting assistance. The temporary arrangements should have sufficient chairs for both police and the public, but physical distancing must be mandatorily enforced.

On Saturday, the Bengaluru police department lost its fourth personnel to the virus. The official announcement came on Sunday.